Idle thoughts about various things of interest, and random recollections of youth interspersed with photography projects and friends best works...

Saturday, 3 December 2011

A footnote to the Day

This first blog that I am rudely attempting amidst the banal mocking pageantry of pre Christmas exploitation is going to be on the subject of what my blogs are going to be actually about: thus, everything and nothing.

I must admit that I initially viewed the social media entrapment, and the proliferation of blogs as mundane, ridiculous and frankly absurdly egotistical. Now however I opine that it is something quite deliciously intriguing, if only because I have now fallen foul of this dark sided engagement so to suggest otherwise would be hypocritical.

I discovered a quite wonderful book when wandering through the streets of Dublin with little to do last week by the author and photographer Gary Coyle called 'Death. In Dun Laoghaire', and if Gary does happen to stumble across this blog over the next extended period then he will notice that I am about to blatantly alleviate him of part of his creative idea.

http://www.garycoyle.ie/

I am being brazen in this because I believe that art, ideas and expression has it's origins in many places, not least through the inspiration from prior works, and that the age old adage of the highest compliment being paid to plagiarism, or rather flattery through imitation, certainly has merit. To surmise, I am going to embark on small little photo and writing projects that look at and discover aspects of my own memories, childhood, teenage and otherwise, which I'm sure will be more cathartic for me than interesting to anybody else, but to misquote somebody whom I can't quite remember; art/film/storytelling should fundamentally be for the creator to enjoy, and if other people find enjoyment within that, then wonderful, if not, well, I guess that's the beauty of the blog, it doesn't matter. Or does it? I don't know yet, maybe I will someday.

As a footnote, I realise that by creating this blog I am opening myself up to a litany of abuse, mainly from my best friends believe it or not, and I am ready, willing and entirely prepared to stick up for myself. Besides I voted for Fianna Fail in the last election and I would consider myself a Democrat without knowing why. So there.

28 comments:

You've hit the nail on the head Eoin - you blog about what you love, what you care about and what makes you tick. If other people enjoy it too so much the better. Glad you decided to join us though :) I love having my blogs as I've met people that otherwise I would have never have know existed and found sides of myself I thought were lost forever.

Not entirely sure what quote you're referring to, but sounds like you're going with the Modernist idea of "art for art's sake"

And between this and the books you've referenced on twitter, I must conclude that you are, in fact, a modernist. As an Arthurian-obsessed medievalist, I can't even tell you how much it pains me that the actor playing Sir Gwaine is a modernist. But I suppose T.H. White was a modernist (post-modernist?), and besides, you're witty, articulate, and charmingly Irish.

...So I look forward to reading!

Also, I hope you enjoy your blogging-as-memoir project. I wrote a memoir for class last year, and it was a total bitch to write, but fascinatingly introspective.

I love a working brain…and eloquenly expressed thoughts. So, I reckon, whatever you will write about and whatever views will escape your “working” brain, I’m sure it will be an interesting read. The little tidbits you share with us on twitter are proof of that, already.

I have been writing a novel for a while now and hope to complete it within the next months, alas, my working hours do not allow me to invest as much time there as I would love to.

I’m a trauma therapist. Confronted with the sometimes gruesome reality of my patients’ stories, writing has always been a way to keep my own sanity just when I have realized again what people are capable of doing to others with torture and/or war. Reality is no friend of denial or catharsis, but we can create our own places for that.

I hope this blog will be everything you wish for, and I’m looking forward to read what you mind comes up with. Blessed be, Eoin.Cheers, Jas

Blogging, tweeting...all social media is primarily about broadcasting your own personal signal - getting what's inside your brain outside of it and in a convenient, portable and shareable medium. And if anyone chooses to tune in or respond...well, that's extra.

I had no idea why I blogged at the start, but looking back at what I wrote 3 years ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago... it's like visiting a stranger that you're on intimate terms with. You have no idea who this person you used to be is, but there are moments of being them that you remember with incredible clarity. It's a hard slog keeping it up in the long term, but as a personal experiment I'd say it was definitely worth it.

Everything and nothing, for either everyone or no one but yourself to enjoy - yup, you've fairly nailed the whole spirit of this blogging carry on with that! I think you'll be happy here :) Beautiful photography, by the way. Looking forward to many more,Roisin

p.s. Thought you might be interested in this if you ever find yourself in any geeky arguments - Arthur was one of our own! A good auld Donegal man: http://childofdanu.blogspot.com/2011/08/joys-of-local-journalism-or-how-i.html

Just wanted to comment that the pic in b/w of the bedroom is just stunning.. did you use a reflex to take it?? I own a Canon 450D and i don't have enough time to practice with it, but i like photography

Welcome to the blogosphere. Whatever you choose to post, I'll enjoy taking it in. Sharing what you enjoy, whether it's books, memories or photos, just helps spread that joy around. We could all use more of that right now. I'll leave you and everyone with a comment by my 9 yr old son from lunch today: "I want to drink tea like crazy. Tea, Tea, Tea!" (enjoying hot tea at Dim Sum at Uncle Yip's.)

You said, "I believe that art, ideas and expression has it's origins in many places, not least through the inspiration from prior works, and that the age old adage of the highest compliment being paid to plagiarism, or rather flattery through imitation, certainly has merit" and I couldn't agree more; while there is legal controversy, there is still such a blossoming respect and appreciation, lay and academic, for transformative works in so many genres: writing, art, music composition and mixing, film and performance. All we have are the building blocks we made before. There are no bricks but for clay and sand and water and fire.

1)Blogs allow you to say the things that are on your mind only without the "wtf are you talking about" looks from random strangers or friends who think you've lost a few. It allows you to speak through the voice in your head without censorship, rhyme, or reason. Kinda like art. There's another quote about art - that some artists never consider a piece finished; that there is always something that can be added/improved upon/taken away. Blogs are the same thing.

2) I am soooooooo not surprised you started this after you became more active on Twitter. It's all a bit addicting, isn't it? Told you people would read it if you wrote one. Tell your friends to bugger up about it. Or, you could be like everyone else I know and deny vehemently to Real Life Friends that you have a blog ... oh, wait. Nevermind. Most the people I know only blog so they can emote on porn and shoes without their husbands finding out. Carry On. Nothing to see here.

"I believe that art, ideas and expression has it's origins in many places, not least through the inspiration from prior works, and that the age old adage of the highest compliment being paid to plagiarism, or rather flattery through imitation, certainly has merit."

This sentence is very dear to my heart and the heart of a lot of my friends who like to write/draw/paint/film/photograph. I am more on the writing side myself, and I spend even more time reading then writing, because that fuels me. Living does too, but I guess when you embrace the creation, everything and nothing is a reason for it.

I have to thank you, because I've been meaning to create a real blog (and not a journal where I could discuss of the latest episode of whichever tvshow I'm watching at the moment, or even give news to my friends&family) in which I could just... write. Use catharsis. (I still don't know if I'm going to do it in English or French...) And I didn't use the possibility my google account provided me until now.

I'm happy you're talking about books (I'd love to find the poem books you quoted on twitter some time ago) and photography, because I'm far away from any book I can read and I need to hear they still exist and live, and be able to go back to Europe with my head full of want to read a lot of awesome texts (beside the ones I bought two days before leaving and couldn't take because of stupid weight limit...).

I may or may not find enjoyment in your blog entries, but I may also find inspiration, and this may be even more precious.

I've also decided to start a blog. I've never been able to stick to diary-writing or blogging, but I thought if I wrote about the root cause of the problem - my ADHD and how it affects my life and creative pursuits (writing, acting, singing) - then I might just stand a chance. As you say here, I think it's mostly for my own benefit. However, I'd like to think that other people in my position or who have yet to be diagnosed may find some use or comfort in it somewhere, and if nothing else they can point and laugh!

Love the blog! To me you're really inspiring and you always will be, so I do think you will get a lot of people reading your blog. It's all about having fun and doing what you love most! Looking forward to your next post :)

"...which I'm sure will be more cathartic for me than interesting to anybody else, but to misquote somebody whom I can't quite remember; art/film/storytelling should fundamentally be for the creator to enjoy, and if other people find enjoyment within that, then wonderful, if not, well, I guess that's the beauty of the blog, it doesn't matter."

I love that. The only blog I have is a history of concerts I've been too. If other people read it, that's fine, but really it's for me.

Lovely post here and the photo is amazing. I can't wait to read more here. Especially you're art project you're going to start. As someone who's ridiculous art-challenged, I like to live vicariously through those who can create such beautiful things.

And you, Eoin, are living in the public eye, more or less, and some people out there are, well, weird. I hope this project won't backfire at you in whatever way.

I'm young, but I've already encountered some of "the weird" in my line of work...stalking patients,sometimes quite scary.It can be unnerving to find them at the door of your private home, oops.

Ah, let's stay optimistic, Jas (I tend to talk to myself,hehe, inherited that from my mom - she used to say, though, when I asked her why she was talking to herself: 'I like to talk to smart people.' This could have been her Oscar Wilde moment there ;-) )

Peter Ustinov, a man I have tremendously admired once said: 'An optimist is one who knows how sad the world can be, while a pessimist is one who finds out anew every morning.'So, let's be an optimist in that sense, eh?

Thank you for all the insightful comments and observations, I can't reply to everybody, and this seems very disingenuous to even say that, but it's lovely to read your replies, I am humbled that you have taken the time. I will try because I am fascinated, and have read some of the other blogs from the authors commenting. I'm just going to write and post my various artistic endeavours and if you want to read and comment then great, and I'm open to a dialogue.Yours with sincerity

I'll be interested to read what you write on here. I'm not a blogger (I just tweet a lot) but think that social media is both egotistical and intriguing. I've met people who live thousands of miles away from me who have enriched my life via social networks, as well as shared mundane thoughts about my life.

Anyway, the book you mentioned reminded me of another death-themed one I've read recently. Stiff-The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. I'm not a macabre person, but it was pretty fascinating:

I'm sure that your blog readers will be more than thrilled to mull over and digest your writing, thoughts and pictures....as through this we will discover more about the real you.... maybe the thoughtful, introspective and intellectual side of yourself.Much as we loved seeing you, when you thundered onto our TV screens in Series 3 of "Merlin", I believe that you are very underused in the role of Sir Gwaine!Your eulogy poem to your father- written in 2007 - showed how poetic, wide-ranging and articulate you are as a person.That Belverdere College education certainly wasn't wasted on ya !Regards and best wishes......Anne x

People who have decided to follow me cos they have good taste

Things about me

A misunderstood misanthropic actor/film maker/writer type who probably has a greater sense of self worth than he should whilst simultaneously having a deep sense of self loathing, coupled with an optimism for the future and a paradoxical senseless love for humanity.